Method for detecting events on a touch screen using mechanical input

ABSTRACT

A mechanical input element (e.g., a dial or knob) that comprises one or more movable components is attached to an input screen (e.g., a touch screen). A microprocessor detects movement of the one or more movable components of the mechanical input element via the input screen. The detection of the movement of the one or more movable components of the mechanical input element is used to control various types of electronic/mechanical systems, such as controlling a volume on a radio.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefits of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/654,097, filed Apr. 6, 2018, entitled “METHOD TOREGISTER TOUCH EVENTS ON A CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN BY USING A MECHANICALDIAL”, which is incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure is generally directed to touch screen technology,in particular, toward combining touch screen technology with mechanicalinput features.

BACKGROUND

Capacitive touchscreens are widely used for interacting with devices andsystems. Such interaction is accomplished by detecting a capacitivechange in a field created by the touchscreen layer that is caused by ahuman finger, an electronic pen, and/or a passive pen with a speciallydesigned tip. Such capacitive touchscreens are increasingly used inautomotive applications with varying user experiences. Some users stillprefer to interact with systems in a car through the use of mechanicaldials. For example, a user does not need to look at the mechanical dialto find it because they can feel the dial with their fingers whiledriving. In addition, the action of turning a mechanical dial providesintuitive feedback to the user about the changing of a setting.Moreover, touch, texture, and pressure confirms the correct interactionwithout looking as compared to touching a glass touchscreen with notexture and no pressure feedback.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first illustrative system for detectingan interaction between a mechanical input element and an input screen;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative frontal view of an input screen with attachedmechanical input elements;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative side view of an input screen with attachedmechanical input elements;

FIG. 4A is a first illustrative bottom view of a mechanical dial/buttonthat uses different colors for detecting movement of the mechanicaldial/button by an optical touch screen;

FIG. 4B is a second illustrative bottom view of a mechanical dial/buttonthat uses different colors for detecting movement of the mechanicaldial/button by an optical touch screen; and

FIG. 5 is an illustrative flow diagram of a process for detectingmovement of a mechanical input device by an input screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first illustrative system 100 fordetecting an interaction between a mechanical input element 110 and aninput screen 101. The first illustrative system 100 comprises the inputscreen 101, a microprocessor 102, a memory 103, an interface to otherdevices/system 105, and a mechanical input element 110. The firstillustrative system 100 may represent and/or interface with variety ofsystems/devices, such as, a car radio, a portable radio, a portabledevice, a cellular telephone, a laptop computer, a personal computer, anotebook device, a tablet device, a gaming system, a set-top device, acompact disk player, a music device, a television, an amplifier, astereo, a disk player, a car odometer, an electronic speedometer, aheating/air control system, an appliance system, a cable box, and/or thelike. Although not shown, the first illustrative system 100 may compriseother elements, such as a mouse, a keyboard, a keypad, a speaker, amicrophone, and/or the like.

The input screen 101 can be or may include any input screen 101 that candetect movement of a mechanical input element 110, such as a capacitivetouch screen, a resistive touch screen, a force touch screen (e.g., asdescribed in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_Touch), an indicativetouch screen, an infrared touch screen, an optical touch screen, and/orthe like. The input screen 101 typically has an associated display fordisplaying information to a user.

The microprocessor 102 can be or may include any microprocessor 102 thatcan process information from the input screen 101, such as, a digitalsignal processor, a microcontroller, an application specific processor,a multi-core processor, and off the shelf microprocessor 102, and/or thelike. The microprocessor 102 interfaces with the input screen 101, thememory 103, the code 104, and the interface to other devices/systems105. The microprocessor 102 may be integrated into a controller of theinput screen 101.

The memory 103 can be or may include any memory 103, such as, a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device,or any suitable combination of the foregoing. The memory 103 is used tostore information used by the microprocessor 102.

The memory 103 further comprises code 104. The code 104 can be or mayinclude any type of computer instructions that program themicroprocessor 102 to perform the processes described herein.

The interface to other devices/systems 105 can be or may include anyknown interface, such as, an Application Programming Interface (API), anetwork interface (e.g., a WiFi interface), a bus, a hardware interface,a serial interface, a parallel interface, a semaphore, a combination ofthese, and/or the like. The interface to other devices/systems 105 maybe a direct interface from the microprocessor 102 or an indirectinterface (e.g., a network interface).

The mechanical input element 110 can be or may include any mechanicalinput element 110 that can provide moment that can be detected by theinput screen 101, such as a mechanical knob/dial, a mechanical slider, amechanical button, a mechanical switch, a mechanical jack (i.e., a plugcan be detected by the input screen 101), and/or the like. Themechanical input element 110 typically has one or more movablecomponents that are used by the input screen 101 to detect movement,such as a stylus, a slider, a switch element, a rotatable knob/dial, abutton, a connector, a lid, a cover, and/or the like.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative frontal view 200 of an input screen 101 withattached mechanical input elements 110A-110N. The illustrative frontalview 200 of the input screen 101 with attached mechanical input elements110A-110N is shown to highlight different types of mechanical inputelements 110A-110N. Although not shown, various combinations and/ornumbers of mechanical input elements 110 may be attached to the inputscreen 101. For example, the input screen 101 may only include a singlemechanical input element (e.g., mechanical input element 110A), multiplemechanical input elements 110A-110N, or a combination of mechanicalinput elements 110A-110N.

The mechanical input element 110A is an exemplary embodiment of amechanical dial/knob. The mechanical input element 110B is an exemplaryembodiment of a mechanical button. The mechanical input element 110C isan exemplary embodiment of a mechanical rocker switch. The mechanicalinput element 110N is an exemplary embodiment of a mechanical slider.The mechanical input elements 110A-110N are for illustrative purposesonly. One of skill in the art would understand that other types ofmechanical input elements 110 can be envisioned to work with theembodiments described herein, such as a mechanical jack, a mechanicalsocket, a mechanical prong, a mechanical lid, a mechanical cover, and/orthe like.

The mechanical input elements 110A-110N are typically attached to theinput screen 101 using a type of glue or adhesive. However, in someembodiments other types of mechanisms may be used to attach themechanical input elements 110A-110N to the input screen 101, such asusing a bolt/nut (where there is a hole in the input screen 101), afastener, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the input screen 101 isa standard off-the-shelf input screen 101.

Although the mechanical input elements 110A-110N appear to work similarto regular dials/knobs, buttons, switches, and sliders, the mechanicalinput elements 110A-110N by themselves do not actually control any typeelectrical/electronic signals. For example, the mechanical input element110A (dial/knob) does not control restive properties (i.e., like apotentiometer) to control an electronic circuit. Similarly, themechanical input elements 110B-110N do not by themselves switch orcontrol an electrical/electronic circuit.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative side view 300 of an input screen 101 withattached mechanical input elements 110A-110N. In FIG. 3, the dashedlines represent components that are behind other components. Theillustrative side view 300 of the input screen 101 comprises themechanical input elements 110A-110N, the input screen 101, and a housing320. FIG. 3 is an exemplary view and is not necessarily drawn to scalein order to illustrate how each of the mechanical input elements110A-110N work. One of skill in the art would envision where theelements of the mechanical input elements 110A-110N would be ofdifferent sizes/proportions.

The housing 320 is an illustrative example of a structural componentthat may cover elements, such as the microprocessor 102, the memory 103,and the interface to other devices/systems 105. The housing 320 can beor may include any type of housing 320, such as a backing of a device(e.g., a backing a note pad device), a dashboard for a vehicle, a doorof an appliance, a part of a portable musical device, a housing 320 ofan amplifier, and/or the like. In some embodiments, there may not be ahousing 320.

The mechanical input element 110A (the mechanical dial/knob) comprises arotating element 301, a button element 302, a button stylus 303, and arotator stylus 304. The button stylus 303 is attached to the buttonelement 302. When the user presses the button element 302, this causesthe button stylus 303 to touch the input screen 101. In one embodiment,the button element 302 may be part of the rotating element 301. When thebutton stylus 303 touches the input screen 101, the microprocessor 102receives information that the button stylus 303 has touched the inputscreen 101. The microprocessor 102 determines the touch to the inputscreen 101 based on a programmed location of where the button stylus 303contacts the input screen 101 (a specific X/Y coordinate). In oneembodiment, the button stylus 303 may rotate when the rotating element301 rotates. In this case, the microprocessor 102 determines the contactof the button stylus 303 based on a circular pattern (specific X/Ycoordinates of a circular pattern for the button stylus 303). Based onthe button stylus 303 touching the input screen 101, the microprocessor102 may initiate an event. For example, the microprocessor 102 may turnon a radio or start a car.

The rotator stylus 304 is attached to the rotating element 301. When auser turns the rotating element 301 of the dial/knob (mechanical inputelement 110A), the rotator stylus 304 rotates in a similar manner (acircular manner) as the rotating element 301. As the rotating element301 rotates, the rotator stylus 304 touches the input screen 101 as itrotates. The touching of the rotator stylus 304 as it rotates allows theinput screen 101 to detect the movement of the dial/knob (mechanicalinput element 110A). For example, the input screen 101 may be acapacitive touch screen 101, a resistive touch screen 101 (where therotator stylus 304 presses the resistive touch screen 101), and/or aforce touch screen (where the rotator stylus 304 presses the resistivetouch screen 101) that can detect the movement of the rotator stylus 304as the rotating element 301 is turned. Based on the detected rotation ofthe rotator stylus 304, the microprocessor 102 can generate an event.For example, based on a rotation speed/direction, the microprocessor 102may turn up or turn down a volume of a radio (e.g., a specific ratebased on the rotation), turn down a temperate of a fridge, turn up atemperature of a heating system, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the button stylus 303 and the rotator stylus 304may be comprised of a specific material that allows the input screen 101to detect the movement of the button stylus 303 and the rotator stylus304. For example, the button stylus 303 and the rotator stylus 304 maycomprise or be coated with a material that provides capacitivecharacteristics that can be detected by a capacitive touch screen 101.

In one embodiment, the mechanical input element 110A may not include thebutton element 302/button stylus 303 while still providing similarfunctionality. For example, the rotator element 301 may only rotate afixed number of degrees (e.g., 350 degrees out of 360 degrees). At 0degrees, this is considered the off position for a switch (determined bythe X/Y coordinates of the rotator stylus 304). For example, when themechanical input 110A is at 0 degrees (the rotator stylus is at aspecific X/Y coordinate), a car radio is turned off. When the userrotates the rotating element 301 past 0 degrees, the user may hear amechanical click (e.g., like existing dials with an incorporatedswitch), the rotating causes the radio to turn on. The user can thenadjust the volume for the car radio by continuing to rotate the rotatingelement 301.

In one embodiment, the mechanical input element 110A includes therotating element 301, the button element 302, the rotator stylus 304,but not the button stylus 303. In this embodiment, the input screen 101is a force input screen 101. The rotator stylus 304 rotates when theuser turns the rotating element 301 in a similar manner as discussedabove. The rotation of the rotator stylus 304 causes the microprocessor102 to initiate an event (e.g., adjusting a volume). The rotator stylus304 provides an initial pressure to the force input screen 101. If theuser pushes the button element 302, the initial pressure of the rotatorstylus 304 to the force input screen 101 is increased to a second level.The force input screen 101 detects the change in pressure of the rotatorstylus 304 and creates a different event. For example, to switch a radioon or off.

In one embodiment, the mechanical input element 110A may be transparentor hollow (e.g., have a hole in the middle of the dial/knob) so that auser can see the input screen 101 (display information) through themechanical input element 110A. An on/off sign can be displayed by theinput screen 101 at the bottom and/or in the middle of the mechanicalinput element 110A that is visible to the user. The user may touch theinput screen 101 through a hole in the mechanical input element 110A orpush the transparent rotating element 301 to turn something on and off.

In one embodiment, the rotator stylus 304 may move up and down. Forexample, when the user first pushes the rotating element 301, therotator stylus 304 is pushed down to contact the input screen 101. Whenthe user pushes the rotating element 301 again, the rotator stylus 304is moved up and does not contact the input screen 101. This can simulatea switch (e.g., on when the rotator stylus 304 is in contact with theinput screen and off when the rotator stylus is not in contact with theinput screen 101). Alternatively, the rotator stylus 304 may stay incontact with the input screen 101 and move right/left to indicate anon/off action.

The mechanical input element 110B (the mechanical button) comprises abutton element 305 and a button stylus 306. When the user pushes thebutton element 305, the button stylus 306 touches the input screen 101.When the button stylus 306 touches the input screen 101, themicroprocessor 102 detects the contact with the input screen 101. Themicroprocessor 102, based on the location of where the button stylus 306touches the input screen 101 (an X/Y coordinate) generates an event. Forexample, to select a specific radio station or to switch on lights in acar.

The mechanical input element 110C (a mechanical switch) is an exemplaryexample of a rocker switch. The mechanical input element 110C comprisesrocker styluses 307-308 and a rocker 309. As shown in FIG. 3, the rockerstylus 307 is touching the input screen 101. If the user pushes therocker 309 to the other position, the rocker stylus 307 will no longertouch the input screen 101 and the rocker stylus 308 will be touchingthe input screen 101. Based on a defined locations (X/Y coordinates) ofwhere the rocker styluses 307-308 touch the input screen 101, themicroprocessor 102 can generate different events. For example, when therocker stylus 307 touches the input screen 101, the microprocessor 102may turn on a device or appliance. When the rocker stylus 308 touchesthe input screen 101, the device or appliance may be turned off.

The mechanical input element 110N (a mechanical slider) comprises aslider element 310 and a slider stylus 311. When a user moves the sliderelement 310, the slider stylus 311 moves across the input screen 101.The microprocessor 102 determines the location of the slider stylus 311based on where the slider stylus 311 is touching the input screen 101.Based on the location, an event is generated. For example, the slidermay be used to control volume for a radio or a temperate for aheating/air control system.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, other types of mechanical input elements110 are envisioned. For example, when a plug is pushed into a jack, thismay cause a stylus to contact the input screen 101. Alternatively, whena lid or cover is placed over the input screen 101, a stylus may contactthe input screen 101.

In FIG. 3, the button stylus 303, the rotator stylus 304, the buttonstylus 306, the rocker styluses 307-308, and the slider stylus 311 arepassive styluses. This means that the rotator stylus 304, the buttonstylus 306, the rocker styluses 307-308, and the slider stylus 311(along with the mechanical input elements 110A-110N) do not contain anyelectric or electronic components. However, in one embodiment, therotator stylus 304, the button stylus 306, the rocker styluses 307-308,the slider stylus 311, and/or the mechanical input elements 110A-110Nmay include electric/electronic components. For example, where aninductive touch screen 101 is used to generate an inductive fielddetected by the input screen 101.

FIG. 4A is a first illustrative bottom view of a mechanical dial/button(a mechanical input element 410) that uses different colors fordetecting movement of the mechanical dial/button by an optical touchscreen 101. The mechanical input element 410 comprises a dial/knob and abutton (similar to mechanical input element 110A). In FIG. 4A, themechanical input element 410 comprises a color ring 411, color areas412A-412N, an adhesive area 413, and a stylus cover 414.

The color ring 411 comprises two or more color areas 412. For example,as shown in FIG. 4A, the color ring 411 comprises eight color areas412A-412N. The color areas 412A-412N may comprise different colors ineach of the color areas 412A-412N. Alternatively, the color areas412A-412N may alternate between colors. One can envision that varioustypes of color patterns can be used for the color areas 412A-412N. Thecolor areas 412A-412N may be a series of different types of shapes. Forexample, the color areas 412A-412N may a set of colored circles and/orcolored squares evenly spaced in the color ring 411. In one embodiment,instead of using different colors, different shapes may be used. Forexample, the color areas 412A-412N may comprise alternatingcircles/squares that are all the same color (e.g., black with a whitebackground). In this embodiment, the microprocessor 102 determinesmovement of the mechanical input element 410 based on the moving shapes.

The adhesive area 413 is where the mechanical input element 410 attachesto the input screen 101. The adhesive area 413 is shown between thecolor ring 411 and the stylus cover 414. In another embodiment, theadhesive area 413 may be at the outside edge of the bottom of themechanical input element 410 (where the color ring 411 is located inFIG. 4A). In this embodiment, the color ring 411 would be where theadhesive ring 413 is located in FIG. 4A. In other words, the color ring411 and the adhesive area 413 of FIG. 4A would be swapped.

The stylus cover 414 is an element that covers a button stylus 415(shown in FIG. 4B). The stylus cover 414 has slits that allow the buttonstylus 415 to be pushed through the stylus cover 414. Instead of usingslits, other mechanical components may be used for the stylus cover. Forexample, a lid may open up to allow the button stylus 415 to be shown tothe input screen 101.

FIG. 4B is a second illustrative bottom view of a mechanical dial/buttonthat uses different colors for detecting movement of the mechanicaldial/button by an optical touch screen. The second illustrative bottomview of FIG. 4B is that same as FIG. 4A with the exception that when thebutton in the mechanical input element 410 is pushed (similar to thatdescribed for mechanical input element 110A), the button stylus 415 ispushed through the stylus cover 414. As shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, the styluscover 414 and the button stylus 415 are different colors. In oneembodiment different shapes may be used. For example, a square may bedisplayed for by the stylus cover 414 and then a circle may be displayedwhen the button stylus 415 is shown in FIG. 4B.

The mechanical input element 410 comprises a rotating element thatincludes the color ring 411. When a user rotates the mechanical inputelement 410, the input screen 101 (an optical input screen 101) detectsthe rotating pattern of the color areas 412A-412N or objects in thecolor areas 412A-412N. Based on the speed and/or direction of therotation, the microprocessor 102 can trigger various events, such ascontrolling a volume or a heating temperature.

When the user pushes the button element (not shown) of the mechanicalinput element 410, the optical input screen 101 can detect the change incolor and/or an object at a specific X/Y coordinates of where the buttonstylus 415 is located. The detection of the change in color and/or anobject can cause the microprocessor 102 to trigger one or more events(e.g., to turn on a device/appliance).

In one embodiment, the mechanical input element 410 does not have abutton. In this embodiment there is no button stylus cover 414. In thisembodiment, the adhesive area 413 may include the area of the buttonstylus cover 414.

In FIGS. 4A-4B, the description is based on using an optical inputscreen 101. However, other types of input screens 101 may be used. Forexample, an inferred input screen 101 may be used to detect differentinferred wavelengths.

The same mechanical input elements 110A-110N discussed for FIGS. 2-3 canbe designed in a similar manner to mechanical input element 410 wheredifferent colors/objects are used to detect movement of a mechanicalinput element 110A-110N. For example, for a slider, the stylus may haveone color and the rest of the back of the slider is a different color.For the rocker switch, when the rocker switch is in one position, onlyone color is able to be seen by the optical input screen 101 at aspecific X/Y coordinate.

In one embodiment, a combination of colors areas 412A-142N and styluses(e.g., 303, 304, 306, 307-308, and 311) may be used to determine events.For example, the input screen 101 may detect both optical input andtouch input.

One advantage to using mechanical input elements 110A-110N/410 asdescribed above is that their functionality can change dynamically.Based on what is displayed in the input screen 101, the function of adial, a knob, a slider, a button, a switch, and/or the like can changebased on the context of what is being displayed by the input screen 101.For example, when the input screen 101 is displaying informationassociated with a vehicle radio, the mechanical input element 110A (adial) can control a volume of the vehicle radio. The input screen 101may display a message indicating that the mechanical input element 110Ais a volume control for a radio. When the display is being used to showheating information for the vehicle, the same mechanical input element110A (a dial) may be used to change a temperature level in the vehicle.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative flow diagram of a process for detectingmovement of a mechanical input element 110A-110N/410 by an input screen101. The process starts in step 500. The microprocessor 102 detectsactivity from the input screen 101 in step 502. The activity of step 502may be activity associated with the input screen 101. If input activityis not detected from the input screen 101 in step 502, themicroprocessor 102 determines if the process is complete in step 510.For example, the process may be complete when a user turns off a carwhere the input screen 101 is used as part of a radio display. If theprocess is complete in step 510, the process ends in step 512.Otherwise, if the process is not complete in step 510, the process goesback to step 502 to see if activity has been detected from the inputscreen 101.

If activity from the input screen 101 has been detected in step 502, themicroprocessor 102 determines if the activity is based on a movementfrom a mechanical input element 110A-110N/410. As discussed above, themicroprocessor 102 can determine movement of a mechanical input element110A-110N/410 based on programmed X/Y coordinates. If the activity isbased on movement from a mechanical input element 110A-110N/410 in step504, the microprocessor 102 implements one or more actions based on theactivity from the mechanical input element 110A-110N/410 in step 506.The process then goes back to step 510. If the activity is not based onmovement from a mechanical input element 110/410 (e.g., a user touchingthe input screen 101 at a specific X/Y coordinate), the microprocessor102 implements, in step 508, the action according to the programmingassociated with the rest of the input screen 101 (the areas notassociated with mechanical input elements 110A-110N/410). The processthen goes to step 510.

Any of the steps, functions, and operations discussed herein can beperformed continuously and automatically.

To avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure, the precedingdescription omits a number of known structures and devices. Thisomission is not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of theclaimed disclosure. Specific details are set forth to provide anunderstanding of the present disclosure. It should, however, beappreciated that the present disclosure may be practiced in a variety ofways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.

Furthermore, while the exemplary embodiments illustrated herein show thevarious components of the system collocated, certain components of thesystem can be located remotely, at distant portions of a distributednetwork, such as a LAN and/or the Internet, or within a dedicatedsystem. Thus, it should be appreciated, that the components of thesystem can be combined into one or more devices, such as a server,communication device, or collocated on a particular node of adistributed network, such as an analog and/or digital telecommunicationsnetwork, a packet-switched network, or a circuit-switched network. Itwill be appreciated from the preceding description, and for reasons ofcomputational efficiency, that the components of the system can bearranged at any location within a distributed network of componentswithout affecting the operation of the system.

Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the various links connectingthe elements can be wired or wireless links, or any combination thereof,or any other known or later developed element(s) that is capable ofsupplying and/or communicating data to and from the connected elements.These wired or wireless links can also be secure links and may becapable of communicating encrypted information. Transmission media usedas links, for example, can be any suitable carrier for electricalsignals, including coaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, andmay take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generatedduring radio-wave and infra-red data communications.

While the flowcharts have been discussed and illustrated in relation toa particular sequence of events, it should be appreciated that changes,additions, and omissions to this sequence can occur without materiallyaffecting the operation of the disclosed embodiments, configuration, andaspects.

A number of variations and modifications of the disclosure can be used.It would be possible to provide for some features of the disclosurewithout providing others.

In yet another embodiment, the systems and methods of this disclosurecan be implemented in conjunction with a special purpose computer, aprogrammed microprocessor 102 or microcontroller and peripheralintegrated circuit element(s), an ASIC or other integrated circuit, adigital signal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit suchas discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device or gate arraysuch as PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL, special purpose computer, any comparablemeans, or the like. In general, any device(s) or means capable ofimplementing the methodology illustrated herein can be used to implementthe various aspects of this disclosure. Exemplary hardware that can beused for the present disclosure includes computers, handheld devices,telephones (e.g., cellular, Internet enabled, digital, analog, hybrids,and others), and other hardware known in the art. Some of these devicesinclude processors (e.g., a single or multiple microprocessors 102),memory 103, nonvolatile storage, input devices, and output devices.Furthermore, alternative software implementations including, but notlimited to, distributed processing or component/object distributedprocessing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can alsobe constructed to implement the methods described herein.

In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be readilyimplemented in conjunction with software using object or object-orientedsoftware development environments that provide portable source code thatcan be used on a variety of computer or workstation platforms.Alternatively, the disclosed system may be implemented partially orfully in hardware using standard logic circuits or VLSI design. Whethersoftware or hardware is used to implement the systems in accordance withthis disclosure is dependent on the speed and/or efficiency requirementsof the system, the particular function, and the particular software orhardware systems or microprocessor 102 or microcomputer systems beingutilized.

In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be partiallyimplemented in software that can be stored on a storage medium, executedon programmed general-purpose computer with the cooperation of acontroller and memory 103, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor102, or the like. In these instances, the systems and methods of thisdisclosure can be implemented as a program embedded on a personalcomputer such as an applet, JAVA® or CGI script, as a resource residingon a server or computer workstation, as a routine embedded in adedicated measurement system, system component, or the like. The systemcan also be implemented by physically incorporating the system and/ormethod into a software and/or hardware system.

Although the present disclosure describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Other similar standards and protocols not mentioned hereinare in existence and are considered to be included in the presentdisclosure. Moreover, the standards and protocols mentioned herein, andother similar standards and protocols not mentioned herein, areperiodically superseded by faster or more effective equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Such replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents included in thepresent disclosure.

The present disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations, andaspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/orapparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, includingvarious embodiments, sub-combinations, and subsets thereof. Those ofskill in the art will understand how to make and use the systems andmethods disclosed herein after understanding the present disclosure. Thepresent disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations, and aspects,includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items notdepicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments,configurations, or aspects hereof, including in the absence of suchitems as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., forimproving performance, achieving ease, and/or reducing cost ofimplementation.

The foregoing discussion of the disclosure has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intendedto limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In theforegoing Detailed Description for example, various features of thedisclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments,configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining thedisclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or aspectsof the disclosure may be combined in alternate embodiments,configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This methodof disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention thatthe claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recitedin each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventiveaspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosedembodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims arehereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of thedisclosure.

Moreover, though the description of the disclosure has includeddescription of one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects andcertain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations,and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as maybe within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, afterunderstanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights,which include alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects to theextent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalentstructures, functions, ranges, or steps to those claimed, whether or notsuch alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions,ranges, or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publiclydedicate any patentable subject matter.

Embodiments include a device comprising: a mechanical input element thatcomprises one or more movable components; an input screen, wherein themechanical input element is attached to the input screen; and amicroprocessor that detects movement of the one or more movablecomponents of the mechanical input element via the input screen.

Aspects of the above device include wherein the input screen is one of acapacitive touch screen, a resistive touch screen, an inductive touchscreen, or a force touch screen and wherein the microprocessor detectsthe movement of the one or more movable components via the one of thecapacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touchscreen, or the force touch screen.

Aspects of the above device include wherein the mechanical input elementis a dial/knob and wherein the one or more movable components comprise arotating element with an attached first stylus that at least one ofrotates, moves right, moves left, moves up, and moves down with therotating element while touching the one of the capacitive touch screen,the resistive touch screen, the inductive touch screen, or the forcetouch screen.

Aspects of the above device include wherein the dial/knob comprises asecond stylus that moves up and down based on a user pushing thedial/knob or a button in the dial/knob and wherein the microprocessordetects when the second stylus is in a down position via the one of thecapacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touchscreen, or the force touch screen.

Aspects of the above device include wherein the input screen is anoptical input screen and wherein the microprocessor detects movement,via the optical input screen, of the one or more movable components bydetecting a change in a color and/or shape from a location under themechanical input element.

Aspects of the above device include wherein the mechanical input elementis a dial/knob and wherein the one or more movable components comprise arotating element with two or more different colors and/or shapes underthe rotating element.

Aspects of the above device include wherein the dial/knob or a button inthe dial/knob can be pushed down by a user, wherein the pushing down bythe user causes a different color and/or shape to be shown at a specificlocation under the dial/knob, and wherein the microprocessor detects,via the optical input screen, the different color and/or shape shown atthe specific location under the dial/knob.

Aspects of the above device include wherein the mechanical input elementis a rocker switch and wherein the rocker switch comprises two rockerstyluses that alternate touching the input screen based on a position ofthe rocker switch.

Aspects of the above device include wherein the mechanical input elementis a slider and wherein the slider comprises a slider element connectedto a slider stylus that moves in contact with the input screen when auser moves the slider element.

Aspects of the above device include wherein the mechanical input elementis a slider, wherein the slider comprises a slider element connected toa slider stylus, wherein the slider stylus comprises a color and/orshape on the slider stylus that is detected by the microprocessor, viathe input screen, when a user moves the slider element.

Aspects of the above device include wherein the input screen is a forcetouch screen, wherein the mechanical input element is a dial/knob with abutton and wherein the one or more movable components comprise arotating element with an attached stylus that rotates with the rotatingelement while touching the force touch screen with a first pressure, andwherein when a user pushes the button, the attached stylus touches theforce screen with a second pressure.

Embodiments include a method comprising: detecting, by a microprocessor,movement of one or more movable components of a mechanical input elementvia an input screen, wherein the mechanical input element comprises oneor more movable components and wherein the mechanical input element isattached to the input screen.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the input screen is one of acapacitive touch screen, a resistive touch screen, an inductive touchscreen, or a force touch screen and wherein the microprocessor detectsthe movement of the one or more movable components via the one of thecapacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touchscreen, or the force touch screen.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the mechanical input elementis a dial/knob and wherein the one or more movable components comprisesa rotating element with an attached first stylus that at least one ofrotates, moves right, moves left, moves up, and moves down with therotating element while touching the one of the capacitive touch screen,the resistive touch screen, the inductive touch screen, or the forcetouch screen.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the dial/knob comprises asecond stylus that moves up and down based on a user pushing thedial/knob or a button in the dial/knob and wherein the microprocessordetects when the second stylus is in a down position via the one of thecapacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touchscreen, or the force touch screen.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the input screen is anoptical input screen and wherein the microprocessor detects movement,via the optical input screen, of the one or more movable components bydetecting a change in a color and/or shape from a location under themechanical input element.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the mechanical input elementis a dial/knob and wherein the one or more movable components comprise arotating element with two or more different colors and/or shapes underthe rotating element.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the dial/knob or a button inthe dial/knob can be pushed down by a user, wherein the pushing down bythe user causes a different color and/or shape to be shown at a specificlocation under the dial/knob, and wherein the microprocessor, detects,via the input screen, the different color and/or shape shown at thespecific location under the dial/knob.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the mechanical input elementis a slider and wherein the slider comprises a slider element connectedto a slider stylus that moves in contact with the input screen when auser moves the slider element.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the mechanical input elementis a slider, wherein the slider comprises a slider element connected toa slider stylus, wherein the slider stylus comprises a color and/orshape on the slider stylus that is detected by the microprocessor, viathe input screen, when a user moves the slider element.

The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” “or,” and “and/or” areopen-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive inoperation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, Band C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “oneor more of A, B, or C,” “A, B, and/or C,” and “A, B, or C” means Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, or A, B and C together.

The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. Assuch, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” can beused interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms“comprising,” “including,” and “having” can be used interchangeably.

The term “automatic” and variations thereof, as used herein, refers toany process or operation, which is typically continuous orsemi-continuous, done without material human input when the process oroperation is performed. However, a process or operation can beautomatic, even though performance of the process or operation usesmaterial or immaterial human input, if the input is received beforeperformance of the process or operation. Human input is deemed to bematerial if such input influences how the process or operation will beperformed. Human input that consents to the performance of the processor operation is not deemed to be “material.”

Aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of an embodimentthat is entirely hardware, an embodiment that is entirely software(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.”Any combination of one or more computer-readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signalmedium or a computer-readable storage medium.

A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limitedto, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combinationof the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer-readable storage medium would include the following: anelectrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computerdiskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or anysuitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document,a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that cancontain or store a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer-readable signal medium may be any computer-readable medium thatis not a computer-readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Program codeembodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using anyappropriate medium, including, but not limited to, wireless, wireline,optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of theforegoing.

The terms “determine,” “calculate,” “compute,” and variations thereof,as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any type ofmethodology, process, mathematical operation or technique.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device comprising: a mechanical input elementthat comprises one or more movable components; an input screen, whereinthe mechanical input element is attached to the input screen; and amicroprocessor that detects movement of the one or more movablecomponents of the mechanical input element via the input screen.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the input screen is one of a capacitive touchscreen, a resistive touch screen, an inductive touch screen, or a forcetouch screen and wherein the microprocessor detects the movement of theone or more movable components via the one of the capacitive touchscreen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touch screen, or theforce touch screen.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the mechanicalinput element is a dial/knob and wherein the one or more movablecomponents comprise a rotating element with an attached first stylusthat at least one of rotates, moves right, moves left, moves up, andmoves down with the rotating element while touching the one of thecapacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, the inductive touchscreen, or the force touch screen.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein thedial/knob comprises a second stylus that moves up and down based on auser pushing the dial/knob or a button in the dial/knob and wherein themicroprocessor detects when the second stylus is in a down position viathe one of the capacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, theinductive touch screen, or the force touch screen.
 5. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the input screen is an optical input screen and whereinthe microprocessor detects movement, via the optical input screen, ofthe one or more movable components by detecting a change in a colorand/or shape from a location under the mechanical input element.
 6. Thedevice of claim 5, wherein the mechanical input element is a dial/knoband wherein the one or more movable components comprise a rotatingelement with two or more different colors and/or shapes under therotating element.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the dial/knob or abutton in the dial/knob can be pushed down by a user, wherein thepushing down by the user causes a different color and/or shape to beshown at a specific location under the dial/knob, and wherein themicroprocessor detects, via the optical input screen, the differentcolor and/or shape shown at the specific location under the dial/knob.8. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical input element is arocker switch and wherein the rocker switch comprises two rockerstyluses that alternate touching the input screen based on a position ofthe rocker switch.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanicalinput element is a slider and wherein the slider comprises a sliderelement connected to a slider stylus that moves in contact with theinput screen when a user moves the slider element.
 10. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the mechanical input element is a slider, wherein theslider comprises a slider element connected to a slider stylus, whereinthe slider stylus comprises a color and/or shape on the slider stylusthat is detected by the microprocessor, via the input screen, when auser moves the slider element.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein theinput screen is a force touch screen, wherein the mechanical inputelement is a dial/knob with a button and wherein the one or more movablecomponents comprise a rotating element with an attached stylus thatrotates with the rotating element while touching the force touch screenwith a first pressure, and wherein when a user pushes the button, theattached stylus touches the force screen with a second pressure.
 12. Amethod comprising: detecting, by a microprocessor, movement of one ormore movable components of a mechanical input element via an inputscreen, wherein the mechanical input element comprises one or moremovable components and wherein the mechanical input element is attachedto the input screen.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the inputscreen is one of a capacitive touch screen, a resistive touch screen, aninductive touch screen, or a force touch screen and wherein themicroprocessor detects the movement of the one or more movablecomponents via the one of the capacitive touch screen, the resistivetouch screen, the inductive touch screen, or the force touch screen. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein the mechanical input element is adial/knob and wherein the one or more movable components comprises arotating element with an attached first stylus that at least one ofrotates, moves right, moves left, moves up, and moves down with therotating element while touching the one of the capacitive touch screen,the resistive touch screen, the inductive touch screen, or the forcetouch screen.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the dial/knobcomprises a second stylus that moves up and down based on a user pushingthe dial/knob or a button in the dial/knob and wherein themicroprocessor detects when the second stylus is in a down position viathe one of the capacitive touch screen, the resistive touch screen, theinductive touch screen, or the force touch screen.
 16. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the input screen is an optical input screen andwherein the microprocessor detects movement, via the optical inputscreen, of the one or more movable components by detecting a change in acolor and/or shape from a location under the mechanical input element.17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mechanical input element is adial/knob and wherein the one or more movable components comprise arotating element with two or more different colors and/or shapes underthe rotating element.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the dial/knobor a button in the dial/knob can be pushed down by a user, wherein thepushing down by the user causes a different color and/or shape to beshown at a specific location under the dial/knob, and wherein themicroprocessor, detects, via the input screen, the different colorand/or shape shown at the specific location under the dial/knob.
 19. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the mechanical input element is a slider andwherein the slider comprises a slider element connected to a sliderstylus that moves in contact with the input screen when a user moves theslider element.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein the mechanical inputelement is a slider, wherein the slider comprises a slider elementconnected to a slider stylus, wherein the slider stylus comprises acolor and/or shape on the slider stylus that is detected by themicroprocessor, via the input screen, when a user moves the sliderelement.